Folding portable confessional



(No Model.)

A. S. SIEBENFOEROHBR.

FOLDING PORTABLE GONPBSSIONAL.

Patented Nov. s, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY S. SIEBENFOERCHER, OF 'KENTON OHIO.

FOLDING PORTABLE CONFESSIONAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,512, dated November 3, 1896.

Application filed April l0, 1896.

To all whom 'lit 'nw/1,' concern:

Beit knoWn that I, ANTHONY S. SIEBEN- FQERCHER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Kenton, in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Portable Oonfessionals, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved folding portable confessional which may be erected in any desirable place and inclosed on top and on all sides by curtains, te render the same private, and is so constructed that it may be folded together and moved about in the manner described in the following sections of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan, and Fig. 4. is an end elevation with the various parts folded together ready to be stored away.

Similar reference-letters refer to simila parts in all of the different views.

The main body o is constructed similar to i an ordinary door, and in a central panel or opening the fine Wire screen d is secured. The main body o is held in an upright position by the folding brackets f, which are hinged to the main body d by the hinges t, and When opened for use, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, form a support for the arm-rests e, which are likewise hinged to the main body a by the hinges s, and when folded up, as in Fig. 4, are held in place by the buttons g. The kneeling-bench is composed of the side pieces o and the knee-rests 7.2. The side pieces o are provided With the longitudinal slots h, through which the pin Z passes loosely, connecting said pieces o to the edges of the main body a. As shown in Fig. l, the kneelingbench may be reversed and placed on either side of the main body a, as indicated by dotted lines. The curtain-frames c are provided with the buttons r, and are attached to the main body a by the pins n, and are held in an elevated or horizontal position by the braces b, which are secured at one end to the frames c by the pivots o, and at the other end they are provided with a notch which engages on the pin p, which is set firmly with the edge of the main body o.

Serial No. 587,056. (No model.)

The tops of the frames c, as shown in Fig. o, are covered With a curtain il., and from the sides and ends ofthe frames c the curtains i are hung. The object of these curtains is to provide private and concealed apartments on. each side of the main body o, one for the priest and the other for the penitent.

` The entire construction is light and there- 'fore portable, and is folded together by removing i'he side and end curtains i and disengaging the braces b from the pins p, which allow the frames c to drop down against the main body d on each side, as shown in. Fig. at. rlhe arm-rests e are then turned up and fastened against each side of the main body ci by the buttons g, as shown in Figs.. l, 2, and 4.. The brackets f are then folded against the main body d, as shown in Fig. 4. The kneeling-bench is then placed in the position shown in Fig. 4, the slots h in the side pieces i; traveling along the pins l until it reaches the end x of the slot h, Whenthe sliding bolts m in the main body d are thrown out With their ends engaging in the other end of the slot 7i, as shown in Fig. 4. When the kneeling-bench is thus folded, the knee-rests 7i: serve to retain the brackets f in the folded position.

The foregoing being a full and complete description of the essential parts of my device, I claim and pray to have secured by Letters Patentl. In a folding portable confessional the combination of a main vertical body having folding curtain-frames pivoted toits edges at the top, the pivoted braces for holding them in a horizontal position and buttons for attaching curtains to the frames, a communieating open panel protected by a screen or lattice, horizontal folding arm-rests hinged to each side of the main body, buttons for holding the arm-rests in a folded position, vertical folding brackets for supporting the `arm-rests and retaining the main body in a vertical position, the reversible kneelingbench with slotted sides connected to and supporting the main body by means of pins passing through slots into the base of the main body at its edges, and sliding bolts to engage the kneeling-bench in a folded position, substantially as shown and described for purposes stated.

TOO

body and resting on supporting-braekets means for retaining the arm-rests in a folded 15 position, a reversible kneeling-bench with slotted sides attached to and supporting the main body, and sliding bolts therein for retaining the kneeling-bench in a folded position substantially as shown and specified for 2o purposes stated.

ANTHONY S. SIEBENFOERCHER.

XVitnesses:

LoUIs F. STEINER, PETER FERNER. 

